Product Knowledge: Direct Shopping Network

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Direct Shopping Network has created this product knowledge to help you learn the basics and the terminology used in the jewelry industry. We believe that an educated buyer will always return. This section of our website contains information you should understand before buying jewelry, gemstones and of course diamonds. Be sure to review the 4 C's of diamonds (carats, clarity, color and cut). Within this Product Knowledge section you can learn how to buy and about diamonds, natural gemstones, as well as, the properties of different types of metals and jewelry.

Obviously this information will not make you an expert, but it intended to help you become more comfortable in evaluating and choosing jewelry.

Learn about the four C's and how they affect a diamond's beauty and value, as well as the myths and science behind the most popular gemstone. Every colored stone has its own story. Learn the details about each gem in our collection, how it's treated, how to care for it and how to evaluate different stones.

Pearls have long been considered classic fine jewelry. Learn about the origins and types of pearls and the special care they require. Learn about the properties of the different types and grades of metal used in our jewelry.

A fine timepiece is as much about form as function. Learn a little about how they work, how they are constructed, and read about each of the brands we carry. Birthstone jewelry is very popular. Learn about each stone's special qualities and the legends associated with them.

Amethyst, February’s birthstone, the Greek word "amethystos" translated as "not drunken." Amethyst was considered to be a strong antidote against drunkenness, which is why wine goblets were often carved and adorned with it!

Purple has long been considered a royal color and amethyst is considered the reason ... [more]

Aquamarine is found in a wide range of blue shades, from light sky blue to deep ocean blue and for the obvious, the Aquamarine is associated with the oceans of the world. Appropriately named Aquamarine, it is derived from the Latin words "aqua” meaning water, and "mare” meaning sea. According to legend, Aquamarine stones were ... [more]

Citrine is found in a beautiful range of transparent shades of yellow to gold to orange brown. Aptly named after the French word “citron” meaning lemon, Citrine has been described as a tasty juicy lemon colored gemstone. Prior to the modern day naming of the Citrine, it was a stone carried by ancient warriors and travelers as ... [more]

Diamonds are recognized as April’s birthstone and are the world's most well known gemstone. Diamond is the strongest and hardest known material and has the highest thermal conductivity of any material at room temperature. Diamonds are made up of carbon that was buried deep within the Earth under intense pressure and heat. They were made popular ... [more]

Emeralds are fascinating gemstones and recognized as the birthstone of May. They show the most beautiful, deepest and most brilliant green imaginable: Emerald green. Inclusions are allowed, and nevertheless, in top qualities fine Emerald are even more valuable than diamonds.

The name Emerald was derived from French ... [more]

Garnet is January’s birthstone and the anniversary gemstone for the second year of marriage. Garnet derived its name from the Latin word granatus, meaning like a grain, which refers to the mode of occurrence wherein crystals resemble grains or seeds.

The most frequently occurring color for garnet is red. However you can find ... [more]

Opal is recognized as October’s birthstone. It is an organic substance formed in the mineral rich earth. Opal, like glass, is non-crystalline, dissimilar from most gemstones. It is basically a silicate, 85-99% pure, with the chemical formula SiO2nH2O. The word opal originates from the Latin word "opalus".

Opal is only ... [more]

Pearls are recognized as June’s birthstone, the derivation of the name pearl originates from a type of shell (Latin-perna) or from its spherical shape (Latin-sphaerula). Most pearls are products of bivalve mollusks mainly of the oyster type, Ostreidae family. They are built up of mother-of-pearl (nacre), which is mostly calcium carbonate, and ... [more]